Wednesday, June 10, 2009

It's cuz I'm a genius, that's why.

A good deal of the squeaking and squawking from Canada's Dumbass-o-sphere this morning reads something like, "How dare they publish that private conversation between Raitt and MacDonnell? That was private, and private stuff has an expectation of, you know, privacy. 'Cuz it's, well, private!" The bitching and moaning goes on and on, but rest assured, the word "private" plays a prominent part in most of it.

Today, Michael Ignatieff joined the media in abusing the content of a private conversation. They have, together, conjoined, taken a private conversation at violated that privacy. Privacy is fundamental human right and need; without privacy, human beings will go insane. It shouldn't be futzed with unless Michael Ignatieff can demonstrate a meangingful, clear, present ramification for public duties. Is Lisa Raitt collaborating with terrorists? Is she on the take? Is she selling state secrets to the hermit kingdom? No? Nothing like that at all? Then the content of a private conversation - no matter how juicy and gossipy - isn't something Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition should touch.

Thanks for playing, Chucker. By the way, Hunter called -- she wants her thought processes back.

You know, it's really rich for people who don't believe in the right to privacy (abortion, warrantless wiretaps, etc.) to be suddenly sooooo concerned about a Conservative politician's right to privacy.

It was during the coalition crisis last year, when a Tory staffer was mistakenly invited to an NDP caucus conference call. He/she didn't announce that he/she was taking part in the call and taped the whole thing. Frankly, that's even worse than what happened here.